Thursday, November 17, 2011

Have You Been A Victim of Plastic Surgery Malpractice?

The number of people having plastic surgery each year has grown steadily since statistics for these procedures were first compiled.  For example, almost 9.5 million cosmetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures were performed in the United States in 2010.  The most frequently performed surgical procedure was breast augmentation and the most popular nonsurgical procedure was injections of Botulinum Toxin Type A (including Botox and Dysport).  The top five surgical procedures were:
  • Breast Augmentation (318,123)
  • Liposuction (289,016)
  • Eyelid surgery (152,123)
  • Abdominoplasty (144,929)
  • Breast Reduction (138,152)
See the full list of surgical and non-surgical procedures at cosmeticsurgerystatistics.com


Not too surprisingly, many physicians performing cosmetic procedures are not especially qualified and often perform surgery outside their area of expertise.  In the simplest of terms, the demand for these procedures is high and a great deal of money can be made by a single physician.  Consequently, it is not uncommon for a physician to perform cosmetic surgical procedures even though the doctor is not a board certified plastic surgeon with the requisite training and experience.  Doctors who don't possess the necessary training and experience (and even some who do) can leave their patients with unacceptable and sometimes horrific results.  So, how do you know when you have been a victim of plastic surgery malpractice?


The first thing to keep in mind as a patient who has undergone a cosmetic procedure is that a sub-optimal result is not always a product of malpractice.  Sometimes the poor results obtained, even though unexpected, would have occurred even in the best of surgical hands.  What generally determines whether the result was the product of medical malpractice is the opinion of a second, neutral physician.  If you have had a cosmetic procedure, and the result is unacceptable to you, seek consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon.  While it is true that physicians do not relish the idea of criticizing another doctor's work, sometimes a consulting physician will offer to repair or revise the earlier work, which is generally a sign something may have occurred that reflects poor medical practice.  If you then suspect you have been a victim of plastic surgery malpractice, you should consult a medical malpractice lawyer to discuss your options and the potential for compensation.


When a physician without the necessary credentials and training commits plastic surgery malpractice, they should be held accountable.   An Orange County medical malpractice lawyer with experience at handling such cases can make a fair assessment of these claims. Mr. Ralph has more than 20 years of experience handling personal injury and medical malpractice cases, including just this type.  He can be reached at 714-919-4415 for a FREE CONSULTATION.


Have you or a loved one been the victim of plastic surgery malpractice?


This posting should not be construed as legal advice or an opinion on the merit of any particular matter.  A consultation is the best way to obtain an assessment of your potential case.
 

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